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MEDITATION

INTRODUCTION

Meditation is an intensely personal and spiritual experience. The desired purpose of each meditation technique is to channel our awareness into a more positive direction by totally transforming one's state of mind. To meditate is to turn inwards, to concentrate on the inner self. The entire process of meditation usually entails the three stages of concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and enlightenment or absorption (samadhi). The individual preparing to meditate usually starts off by harnessing his awareness, such as focussing his mind onto a certain object. Once attention gets engaged, concentration turns into meditation or dhyana. And through continuous meditation, the meditator merges with the object of concentration, which might either be the present moment or the Divine Entity. In some branches of Indian philosopohy, direct perception from the inner self (mana) together with perception that is filtered through the five senses (pancha indriya) form a part of their valid epistemology (pratyaksha jnana). And this self-realization or self-awareness (as popularized by Paramahansa Yogananda), is nothing but the knowledge of the "pure being"—the Self. Humanity is increasingly turning towards various meditative techniques in order to cope with the increasing stress of modern-day lifestyles. Unable to locate stability in the outside world, people have directed their gaze inwards in a bid to attain peace of mind. Modern psychotherapists have begun to discover various therapeutic benefits of meditation practices. The state of relaxation and the altered state of consciousness—both induced by meditation—are especially effective in psychotherapy. But more than anything else, meditation is being used as a personal growth device these days—for inculcating a more positive attitude towards life at large. Meditation is not necessarily a religious practice, but because of its spiritual element it forms an integral part of most religions. And even though the basic objective of most meditation styles remain the same and are performed in a state of inner and outer stillness, they all vary according to the specific religious framework within which they are placed. Preparation, posture, length of period of meditation, particular verbal or visual elements—all contribute to the various forms of meditation. Some of the more popular methods are, Transcendental Meditation, yoga nidra, vipassana and mindfulness meditation.

MORE ON MEDITATION
How To Meditate

There's more to meditation than just closing ones eyes and an understanding of this technique demands an understanding of our mental realm. The subtle state of mind, which is the ultimate stage of meditation, requires a tremendous amount of energy to reach. More....

Benefits Of Meditation

The diagnosis and prescription of meditative practices for the prevention/cure of ailments (both physiological as well as psychological) is something, which has received far less attention than it deserves. The benefits, which vary according to individuals, since the very act of meditation is such an intensely personal experience, are usually More....

Meditation Techniques

It was not till the 20th century that a need for the creation of secular forms of popular meditative techniques began to be felt. But for the most part these New Age meditative systems were little more than rehashed versions of older techniques, which had More....

Information

The art of total awareness and just being. More....

Self Help

• Find a clean place.
• Sit in a position that is most comfortable for you.
• Close your eyes. More....

Meditation for Beginners

Meditation is perhaps the simplest system that you can follow for mental peace and self-realization, but don't get impatient for results More....

Mindfulness Meditation

Meditation, for most of us, is a silent and calming process. Which is why the spoken instructions in guided meditation often seem disturbing. But this is a misconception. Guided meditation makes you look deeply into your mind, face your suffering and be free of its bondage. More....

One Minute Meditation

Did you think meditation is a luxury of the leisure class or meant for anchorites draped in sackcloth? Wrong. One of the virtues of the consumer age is its inability to discriminate. If it can dole out slickly tetrapacked fruit juices ,More....

Twin Heart Meditation

Healing meditation on Twin Hearts is one of the many advanced meditation techniques to achieve illumination, or what we normally call 'universal consciousness'. It is also a form or world service that helps harmonize the earth by blessing it with loving-kindness, peace, joy and goodwill. More....

Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana, the lost technique of Buddhist mindfulness meditation has made a comeback to India, thanks to the efforts of businessman, S.N.Goenka. Goenka stumbled upon the technique in Burma, where it had been preserved for all these years, and learnt it from his guru, Sayagyi U Ba Khin. More....

Yoga Nidra

Doctors, gurus and neighborhood do-gooders are all in the habit of prescribing relaxation as a remedy for taut nerves, work pressures and emotional upheavals. But very few know, or will tell you, how to accomplish the deceptively simple task of relaxing. More....

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